Electromagnetic counting device



DC' 14 1943- J. l. BELLAMY ELECTROMAGNETIC COUNTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 12,. 1946 171751-77511- fU/m [B E] [am fill Dec. 14, 1948. J. BELLAMY 2,456,169

ELECTROMAGNETIC COUNTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 12, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z3 ZZ OPPOSE DL Y TENS/UNED De@ 14, 1948 J. l. BELLAMY 2,456,169

v ELECTROHAGNETIC GOUNTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 12. 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 OPERQTE l l II Y Low-Powsk) 3 PULSE w/ND/NG) I l l J UNE RLY, SEE/E5 OCK l I sk JU/Im/BE'[1527751 w 80 Hrl'l y Dec. 14, 1948. JQI, BELLAMY 2,456,169

ELECTROMAGNETI C COUNT ING DEVI CE Filed Jan. 12,' 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 KC KB KA I OPERATs t coz/NT lll I (Low-POWER) 905/ I 7 a (Pz/s6 wmp/NG) mi" /OO L 200 *TA L 1 l- SLow-opsmr/NG) COUNTER [tl/03 *foon/WOL j] c/Rcu/r L//vf use. SER/Es CD 5K y l fum/E731".-

Patented Dec. 14, 1948 l 2,456,169 ELEc'raoMAGNE'rIc coUN'nNG DEVICE John I. Bellamy, Brookfield, Ill., assignor to Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 12, 194.6, Serial No. 640,797

1o claims. (c1. 177-353),

This invention relates to electromagnetic counting devices, Its object is to provide a simple, reliable, and compact electromagnetic counting device employing a local source of power to actuate a set of electrical contacts selected according to the number of electrical impulses received, whereby the power required for actuating a selected contact set bears no particular relationship to the power required to be expended in the controlling electrical impulse circuit.

A feature of the invention is that a set of successively operable counting members is electromagnetically controlled to count the number of impulses in a received series and to select, without operating, the corresponding one of a series of sets of contacts, following which actuating power is locally applied to,actuate the selected set.

Other will appear as the description p rogresses.

The accompanying drawings, comprising Figs. 1 to 11, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and a desirable modification thereof; Figs. 1 to 8 pertain to the unmodified arrangement, while Figs. 9 to 11 pertain to the modified form.

It has been chosen to illustrate the invention as applied to a structure of the general form disclosed in my prior application for Electromagnetic counting devices Serial No. 493,312, filed July 2, 1943, now U. S. Letters Patent2,441,001, dated May 4, 1948, but employing a system of counting members operating more nearly in accordance with my further application for Electromagnetic counting devices Serial No. 612,689, illed August 25, 1945.

Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are respectively a left-side view, a top view, and a front view, of the basic embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top sectional view of the device of Figs. 1 to 3 taken generally along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, with the rear portion o1' the device omitted.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top sectional view of the front portion of the device of Figs. 1 to 3 taken along the line l--i of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top view of the left-hand front portion of the device of Figs. 1 to 3, showing more clearly the progressive action of the selecting fingers,

Fig. 'I is n enlarged top sectional view of the left-hand rear portion of the device of Figs. 1 to 3, taken generally along the line 1-1 of Fig. 1, showing more clearly how the desired one oi the several sets of contacts is selected by the objects and features of the invention i progressive action of the select fingers during the receipt and counting of impulses.

Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram of a simple signalling system in which the counting device of Figs. 1

` to 3 is of utility.

Construction-Basic device Referring first to the basic device as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, with the aid of auxiliary views of Figs. 4 to 7, the device is assembled around an L-shaped part 2 of magnetic material, commonly termed a heel plate. A pair of electromagnets 3 and 4 are secured to the heel plate, as by screws 5, and have terminals 6 extending to the rear of the device.

Electromagnet 3 may be termed the count magnet in that it has a winding which receives the impulses to be counted, while electromagnet 4 may be termed the operate magnet in that it is energized to bring about operation of a contact set selected by the counting operation.

The iron core l on which the winding of count magnet 3 is wound, extends forwardly as shown clearly in Fig. 1 and has three magnetic operate yokesh to il attached thereto by screw I2. As

shown best in Figs. 3 and 5 these yokes are further secured together by rivet I3.

Operate magnet I has a considerably shorter iron core 8, which attracts armature 26 when the magnet is energized.

cerned pair. These U-shaped reeds are secured at the rear to magnetic bracket M as b v welding.

The two arms of any such reed comprise the two counting armatures of the conwhich bracket is secured to heel plate 2 by a pair of screws I5.

During the counting operation, the twenty counting armatures I6 move successively to the right, one such armature for the beginning of any impulse and another at the termination thereof, each such armature remaining in its alternate position thereafter until the device is cleared out.

The armatures I6 are normally held uniformly spaced from each other by spacing studs 28 arranged as shown best in Fig. 4, considered in connection with Fig. 1. Studs 28 may be brass or other non-magnetic material. Each spacing stud 28 has an intermediate laterally oiset spacing portion lying between its end portions. The end portions lie loosely within openings in armatures' I6. Each armature I6 has an upper pair of openings I9 (Fig. 1) for this purpose, and a lower pair 20. When the separation studs 28 are placed in position, starting at one end of the row, the rst pair is placed within the upper openingsIS of the concerned armature I6; the second pair within the lower pair of openings in the concerned armatures; the third pair within the upper openings I9; and so forth. Such an arrangement of separation studs 28 avoids the necessity of a riveting, welding, or a similar operation. The provision on the two sets of retaining openings I9 and 20 enables a compact arrangement to be adopted, which permits a comparatively great movement of one armature with lrespect to the next without the danger of the concerned separation stud 28 dropping out of position.

Each counting armature I6 has an upwardly extending tab I1 for selection-controlling purposes, and a downwardly extending tab I8 for operational purposes. The downwardly extending tabs I8 operatively lie along side of the upwardly extending pole portions of magnetic yokes 9, I, and II, as shown by Figs. 1 and 5, considered together.

The rear yoke 9 may be termed the retaining yoke, and is preferably made of magnetically soit material. The yokes i0 and ii may be termed operate yokes, and are preferably made of magnetically hard material to the end that any armature I6 attracted into engagement with an upwardly extending pole portion thereof is further held in its operated position by residual magnetism. Yoke Ill may be further termed the evenoperate yoke in that it pertains to the operation of even-numbered ones of the counting armatures I6, while yoke li may be termed the oddoperate yoke in that it pertains to the operation of odd-numbered ones of the counting armatures I6.

As is indicated by the note associated with the rst pair of counting armatures i6 (armatures Ia and Ib) the two armatures I6 of any pair are opposedly tensioned. For example: armature Ib is so tensioned that, when unrestrained, it Will move to the left to a suiicient distance to execute its counting movement. On the other hand, the other armature (Ia) of the same pair is tensioned in the opposite direction with suflicient strength to overcome the noted tension of armature Ib and restore it to its illustrated normal position, the restoring action being accomplished through the concerned one of the spacing studs 28.

The counting operation At this point, the operation of counting armature I6 during the receipt of a series of impulses (ten impulses for example) by count magnet 8 will be described. Each time magnet 3 becomes 4 energized, yokes 9, I0, and II correspondingly be come magnetized with respect to the return heel plate 2, to which the rear end of armatures I6 kare magnetically connected through magnetic counting bracket I4. Each time magnet 3 becomes deenergized, yokes 9 to II1 responsively become demagnetized, except that the upwardly extending pole portions of magnetically hard yokes I0 and II, tend to retain such magnetic ux as may have passed through any one of them incident to a depending tab I8 of a counting armature having been attracted into engagement therewith.

The first impulse begins When the first impulse of a series is received by count magnet 3, the resulting magnetization of yoke 9 and the upwardly extending pole portions thereof, attracts each depending tab I8 of the second (or b) armature I6 to the right, holding each of the counting armatures Ib, 2b, and so forth in normal position. As shown in Fig. 5, a non-magnetic piece 36 may be attached to each concerned depending tab I8 to form a normal residual cap between it and the associated face of restraining yoke 9, to the end that any concerned armature will not be held in normal position between impulses by residual magnetism.

As a further result of the arrival of the first impulse, the consequent magnetization of odd operate yoke II causes the rst upstanding pole thereof to attract the iirst armature (Ia) to the left, through the medium of its depending tab Ia-I8 F'ig, 5. The remaining a armatures are at theI same time urged toward operated position (to the left), by their respective depending tabs I8. These tabs are the a tabs 2a-I8 to Illa-48. None ofthe remaining a armatures however can respond at this time because each of them is held in normal position by its immediately preceding b armature, all b armatures being held in normal position as previously described by the interaction between tabs ib-I8 to IIlb--I8 and restraining yoke 9.

First impulse ends When the first impulse ends. yokes 9, I0, and il respectively demagnetize, except that the up standing pole portion of yoke il, engaged by the leftward movement of depending tab Ia-I8 of the rst armature Ia, retains suificient magnetic flux to hold armature la in its operated position.

As a further result of the end of the first impulse, restraining yoke 9 no longer restrains armatures Ib to Illb. Armature Ia being held in opl Second impulse begins When the second impulse is received, yokes 9 to il are again operatively magnetized. The magnetization of restraining yoke 9` is eiective at this time to restrain armatures 2b to Illb against movement, but has little eiect on armature lb, whose depending tab lib- I8 has now moved to operated position, where substantially Second impulse ends At the end of the second impulse, yckes I to Il are again deenergized. The concerned up-v wardly extending pole portion of yoke I8 retains sufficient magnetic flux to hold the second armature operated through its depending tab Ecl-II. With armature 2a in operated condition the demagnetization of restraining yoke 9 at the end of the second impulse permits armature 2b to move to the left int'o operated position, the action being similar to the action that described the movementof armature lb at the end of the nrst impulse.

Succeeding impulses As the succeeding impulses of the series are received by count magnet 3 and yokes 9 to Il, the succeeding armatures i6 operate successively, the

where it underlies the center of its associated actuating tab 45. But, if another impulse arrives, the select finger in question moves a further distance, to the left, passing beyond selecting position. That is, it passes from underneath its associating selecting tab 45. As a result, when a given series of impulses has ended, only the last selecting finger operated will then be in selecting position, all preceding selecting fingers having been moved beyond selection position, into post-select position. Therefore, only'a single contact set will be operated-mamen?, the contact set corresponding to the last impulse in the received series.

v Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 6, each of the selecting fingers 3B is so tensioned that it tends to move to the left from its illustrated normal position, being held in its normal position by the .upstanding tab I1 of the associated counting next succeeding a armature moving to the left,

Contact set selection Depending upon the number of impulses in a received series, as determined by the counting operation of armatures IS, one or another of the contact sets, SI to SHI, of the device is to be selected pursuant to its subsequent operation responsive to energization of operate magnet l. To this end, ten select lfingers are provided as seen in Figs, 1 and 2. For convenience, these fingers are labeled Fl to FIO, there being a separate one for each pair of counting armatures I6, or a separate one for each of the contact sets, SI to SID. The select fingers 30 may take the form of pieces of wire of the configuration indicated in Figs. 2 and 6. Each such finger may be mounted on the structure by being attached underneath cross member 2l of the pivoted operating structure 2l. As will be hereinafter explained more fully, each of the contact sets, Sl to BIO, is arranged to be operated responsive to an elevation of the U-shape trough-like member 21 underlying the contact sets, but only if the associated selecting finger occupies a position directly underneath the relatively narrow depending actuating tab Il of the actuating blade I4 which underlies the contact set. Normally, each finger 30 occupies a position slightly to the right of its associateddepending actuating tab l5. The selecting operation is such that, upon the receipt and termination of the first impulse, the rst selecting nger Fl moves to the left to an intermediate position,

armature such as Ib, 2b, and so forth. It may be noted that the fingers l0 are preferably of comparatively light gauge wire, relatively smaller than the drawing indicates, wherefore they exert only an insignificant force on counting armatures I8. Referring further to Fig. 7, each of the select fingers 3l normally occupies a position such as is indicated at a for linger Fl. It normally lies to the right of its select position (indicated at b for finger F I) beneath the associated select tab I5.

= When armature lb moves to the left to assume its operated position, at the end of the first received impulse of a series, lthe tensioned finger Fl 'of the select nngers 30 follows the movement (see Fig. 6) to the left until such finger engages the upstanding tab Il on the then unoperated countin g armature 2a. Finger Fl is then in the dotted line position indicated at bin Fig. 7, the selecting position for such finger. The first contact set SI Figs. 2 and 3 is thereby selected.

` When counting armature 2a executes its counting movement (moves to the left), at the beginning of the second impulse, select finger Fl continues its partially executed movement. Such continued movement is terminated when finger Fl again engages the upstanding tab I1 on the previously operated counting armature Ib. Finger FI is then in its post-select position indicated at c in Fig. 7. That is, it has now moved to the left of actuating tab '45 of its associated contact set Si.

It will be understood of course that, when the received series constitutes only a single impulse, select finger FI is left standing in its selecting position indicated at b in Fig. 7.

When armature 2b executes its counting movement, at the end of the second impulse in a received series, the second select iinger F2 moves from its illustrated normal position,4 to its intermediate (select) position. It remains lin that position, or advances further, to its post-select position, depending upon whether the impulse series contains only two impulses, or contains morethan two impulses.

For a series containing more than two impulses, the concerned ones -of the succeeding fingers F2 to FIO operate in their turn in the manner described for fingers FI and F2. Each such succeeding finger moves from normal position into select position upon the termination of the corresponding impulse in the series, and

diiferent configuration from the preceding select further advances from select position to postselect position responsive to the beginning of the next succeeding impulse of the series.

Upon referring to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the unal select finger FIO has a slightly flngers. The rear portion of nger Fill is oifset somewhat to the right. Finger i undergoes a full movement to the left upon the termination of the tenth impulse of a series, since there is no further counting armature beyond armature Ib,

which alone controls select finger Fill. The 01T- set in select finger FI Il is such that the full movement thereof at the end of the tenth impulse of the series brings it into its desired select position.

Contact set construction and operation The contact blades 41 which comprise the ten contact sets SI to SID are mounted at the rear of the device. They are illustrated as passing through a block of insulation 46, but it will be understood that this block may be made up in strip form in the usual manner of contact-bank construction, such as is disclosed for example in my previously noted prior application Serial No. 493,312, filed July 2, 1943. Each blade 41 has a wiring terminal 48 at -the rear of block 46.

Insulation block 46 is supported on spacer block I 42, supported in turn on the rear portion of heel It will be observed that each of the contact sets, SI to SIU, comprises three normally open contact pairs. As shown best in Fig. 3, a staggered arrangement of the contact sets is employed to substantially halve the lateral distance occupied. For example the even-numbered contact sets, S2 to SID, are spaced apart in normal manner along the bottom of the contact bank, while the odd-numbered contact sets, SI to S9, are spaced apart in normal manner along the upper portion of the contact bank, but are laterally offset from the even-numbered contact sets so that the center of any odd-numbered contact set after the first lies directly above the center of the separation space between the associated even-numbered sets. studs 49 for the odd-numbered contact sets pass freely alongside the even-numbered contact sets. By this arrangement, the ten sets of contacts, while occupying additio-nal space vertically, occupy but little more than the horizontal space normally required by half the number of contact sets. This provision enables the device to be mounted more compactly in conjunction with the associated device, such as ordinary telephone relays, indicatedschematically in at 80H to 804 Fig. 8.

Preferably, the lower contact blade of any pair 41 is of relatively thin flexible stock, while its associated contact blade with which it engages, when operated, is of relatively thick rigid stock. Each rigid contact blade may have a generally oblong opening to permit actuating studs 49 to pass freely therethrough. These studs are of the same general outline as the spacing studs 28 Fig. 4. and are held in place by openings in the flexible contact blades, through which their terminal portions pass relatively freely. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the lower actuating stud 49 of any odd-numbered contact set is comparatively long owing to the increased distance from its associated actuating blade 44 to the first flexible spring of the concerned odd-numbered contact set.

In this way, the actuating As shown in Figs. 1, 3, and '1, thelower-endof the iowermost actuating stud of each contact set, SI to S10, rests on-a separate one of the actuating springs 44, the terminal portion thereof being received within an opening in such actuating spring. The actuating springs are integrally. attached to common member 43, whichy lies between blocks 42 and 46, Fig. 1. The forward portion of actuating" springs 44 rest lightly on spring-support bracket 4|, which is notched as at 4I to avoid interference with the terminal portion of the lowermost actuating studs 49.

The forward end of each actuating spring 44 has a relatively narrow centrally located tab 45 extending downwardly therefrom above the longitudinal center line of the actuating cross member 21. When the actuating cross member 21 is raised, the two arms thereof pass alongside any actuating tab 45 without engaging it, with the -exception of the tab of the selected contact set. That tab is raised, because the associated selecting finger 30 lies directly underneath it to bridge across the two arms of actuating cross member 21, thereby raising actuating spring 44 of that contact set. Raising any actuating spring 44 closes the contact pairs in the concerned actuating set through the consequent vertical movement of the actuating stud 49 thereof.

The actuating system The mechanical system for actuating any selected contact set includes actuating yoke 2l; having front cross member 24 formed integrally with side members 22 thereof. The rear, or ac tuating, U-shaped cross member 21 may be attached to the rear portion of side arms 22 as by the illustrated tabs which overlap the side arms and which may be secured thereto as by rivets, welding, and the like.

Side members 22 have upwardly extending pivot portions 23 formed integrally therewith through which pivot member 34 passes. The actuating yoke 2| is held pivotally in position by pivot bracket 3|, which is secured to the forward end of heel plate 2 by a pair of screws 33. Bracket 3i has a pair of side arms 32 which extend upwardly and forwardly. Pivot 34 passes through openings in these side arms.

.As seen best in Figs. 1 and 5, side arms 22 have arms 25 formed integrally therewith, which extend. downwardly and then toward each other. These inward extensions nearly meet at the vertical center line of armature 26, which may be attached thereto by rivets .or by welding.

Clearing out When the selected contact set is to be actuated, operate magnet 4 is then energized to attract armature 26. The operate assembly is thereby rotated about pivot pin 34, the front end of the assembly moving downward, while the rear end moves upwardly to carry the U-shaped rear cross member 21 upwardly pursuant to actuation of the selected contact set as previously described. 1

When the actuated device is to be cleared out, deenergization of operate magnet 4 permits the pivoted actuating assembly to restore to natural position, thereby restoring the actuated contact set. Restoration of counting armatures I6 to normal position, along with select lingers 30 is accomplished by a temporary mild reverse magnetization of count magnet 3. The residual magnetism which has been maintaining the actuatedl counting armatures i6 inoperated position isA thereby neutralized, whereupon all counting armatures II return to normal position, carrying the associated select fingers 30 to normal position.

The system of Figure 8 In the system of Fig, 8, magnetic impulse counter of Figs. l to 3 is shown within the rectangle labeled Counter. 'I'he contact sets, SI

to 8|0, of the counter are indicated diagrammatically within this rectangle, along with count magnet 3 and operate magnet 4. The contact sets are connected respectively in, circuit with ten sets oi' indicating lamps l to |0, each such set containing threelamps a to c, corresponding respectively to the contacts in the set. Control keys KA, KB, and KC respectively control whether an aflamp, a b lamp, or a c lamp in any selected set is to be lighted or not,

- The impulse counter is controlled from a control station having a telephone type calling device CD and a switch key SK, over line 000, through the medium of the control circuit comprising relays 80| to 804.

relay 803 restores.

Calling device CD may be an-impulse sender ofv the dial control type. common in automatic telephone systems. It may transmit an impulse series containing any number from lone to ten impulses. The switch key SK corresponds to the hookswitch ordinarily used at a telephone substation.

In the control circuit, relay 80| corresponds to the line relay customarily used in the automatic telephone system; rrelay 802 corresponds to the so-called release relay; relay 803 corresponds to the so-called series (impulse series) relay; and relay 804 is a locking relay, which assists in the so-called changeover operation common in switchboard circuits in automatic telephone systems.

Release and series relays -802tand 808 are of the so-called slow-restoring type and are indioperates through the front contact of the lower armature of relay 803, in series with the lower contact pair of relay 802. At its inner contact pair relay 804 locks itself, operated independent of contacts of relay 803.

The counter responds to the impulses received by the lower winding of count magnet 3 by operating its counting armatures I8 successively as hereinbefore described, select fingers respondy ing as described.

Sincev ten impulses are contained in the assmned series, all counting armatures I8 are operated at the end thereof and all select ngers 30 are responsively shifted to their extreme operated position.y Under this condition, select fingers FI to F8 are each in post-select position, while the specially formed tenth select finger F|0 is in its select position, contact set S|0 being thereby selected for operation.

Shortly after line relay 80| comes to rest in an operated condition at the end of the tenth and final 'impulse in the transmitted series, series Upon so doing it closes a circuit through the back contact of y its lower armature and through the lower contact pair of the operated lock relay 804 for operate magnet 4 of the counter. 'I'he resultant energization of operate magnet 4 causes the operate structure 2| to execute its previously described movement, in-

cated diagrammatically as having a copper sleeve y surrounding the core between it and the winding. .Count magnet 3 is shown in Fig. 8 as having two differentially connected windings. The lower one is the pulse winding, the one which receives the impulses to be counted. The upperwinding is a relatively low-powered winding employed to clear out the counting portion of the structure.

Assume now that one or more lamps in set I0, associated with contact set I0 of thev counter are to be lighted as a signal indication, this operation is effected from the control station by first closing key SK and then manipulating the calling device CD to transmit a series of ten impulse interruptions over line 800 to line relay 80|.

Line relay 80| operates responsive to the closure of switch key SK, responsive to which release relay 802 operates. At its upper armature release relay 802 prepares a circuit for the lower winding of count magnet .3, in parallel with the winding oi' series relay 803. Being slow-restoring, release relay 002 remains operated through the series of ten momentary restorations of line relay 80| incident to the assumed operation of calling device operates responsive to the first closure of this circuit. Being slow-restoring it remains operated through the series of impulses. Locking relay 804 cluding the raising of the U-shape actuating cross member 21. All iingersl30 are thereby raised, but only the final finger F|0 thereof performs a useful operation at this time, since it is the only one in select position underneath its associated actuating tab 45. Such actuating tab is thereby raised by the bridging action of finger F|0 to thereby secure the actuation of the three contact pairs in set SIO. Assuming that keys KA, KB, and KC are all closed each of the lamps a, b, and

'c in lamp-set I0 are lighted.

When the lighted lamps are to be extinguished switch key SK is opened. When this occurs, line relay restores, followed a moment later by the restoration of slow-restoring release relay 802. During the interval required for relay 802 to restore a further impulse is transmitted to the lower winding of count magnet 3, in parallel with the winding of series relayl 803. The energization at this time of count magnet 3 is a useless, but harmless operation which could be avoided if desired by providing the further pair of contacts on lock relay 804 to disconnect the pulse winding of magnet 3. Upon the operation of series relay 803, operate magnet 4 is open circuited whereupon such magnet deenergizes to permit restoration of the actuated contact set S|0, extinguishing the associated lamps. As a further result of its loperation relay 803 prepares a circuit, at its upper contacts, for the upper winding of count magnet 8. Upon the described restoration of release relay 802 lock relay 804 restores. upper armature of relay 802 open circuits Vseries relay 803. and the pulse winding of the count magnet, at the saine time closing the circuit through the upper contacts of relay 803 for the upper winding of count magnet 3.v This latter circuit remains closed for the interval required for slow-restoring relay 803 to restore after its circuit is opened. The low-powered upper winding of magnet 3 now produces a ,mild reversed magnetism, which permits the operated counting armature I6 to restore to normal condition, clearing out the counting device by restoring select fingers 30 to normal position.

It is belieied to be obvious from the foregoing Additionally, the

that a much larger number of contact pairs could be provided in each of the contact sets Si to SIU if desired, and that this provision would have no direct bearing on the ease with which the preselecting counting operation hereinbefore described ls performed. Its principal effect would be to increase the power required to be obtained from an energization of operate magnet 4, which is of course readily accomplished.

The modified structure The basic structure hereinbeiore described, as modified according to Figs. 9 andi@ will now be described.

Ofi-normal contact set 900 comprises a pair of normally open contact springs mounted by screws 904 onto bracket lidi, insulating plates 902 being interspersed between bracket @di and cap plate 903. Bracket 90N is generally i,'shape, the horizontal portion being secured underneath the left-hand edge of heel plate 2 by screws i205. Actuating stud 905 is attached to the inner contact spring 900 and rests lightly against the -lrst counting armature ia of group iii. When armature ia is moved to the left upon the receipt of the first impulse of a series it closes contact pair uil@ through movement of stud ddd. The inner spring of pair dit@ is preferably of thin flexible material, whereby the counting movement is not substantially impeded. Contacts @du reopen when the device is cleared out as hereinbeiore described.

Contact pair is mounted on the left-hand end of spacing member 02d, which is similar to spacing member l2 but made slightly longer and suitably drilled and tapped for this purpose. Retaining screws hold the assembly in place, which includes cap plate and insulating plates Besides ofi-normal contact pair 95d, the contact set under discussion includes actuating spring 955 which rests lightly on the top of the il-shaped actuating cross member Non which is similar to member 2l' of the principal embodi-v nient except that the left-hand end is extended somewhat for the purpose at hand. .actuating bushing 95d interconnects actuating spring which is similar to member iid, with the lower spring or pair ddii, whereby contact pair is closed each time actuating cross member ala is raised to actuate any selected one of the selective contact sets Si to Sid.

The system ci Figure 1i' Signalling system of Fig. ll is generally similar to the previously described system of l'iig. 8, differing only in that the modified counting device structure of Figs. 9 and lil is employed in place of the earlier described basic structure, and the control circuit of Fig. ll has been suitably revised and simplified in accordance therewith.

In Fig. l1 the control relays comprise line, release, and series relays iiili, Milt, and iiil corresponding respectively to relays @di to lit will be noted that the lower contact sets of relays 802 and 803 are missing in Fig. 1l. They are omitted because they are rendered unnecessary when the modied structure is used. Additionally, lock relay 304 has no counterpart in the system of Fig. 11.

When the switch key SK is closed in the system of Fig. 11, line relay iiili operates over line 800, whereupon release relay M02 operates to prepare an impulsing circuit as described in connection with Fig. 8.

When line relay M06 restores momentarily af desired impulse series at calling device CD, itA

transmits a corresponding series of impulses to the lower winding of count magnet 3, in parallel with the winding of series relay H03. The counting operation thereupon proceeds as hereinbefore described. Relay H03 operates and remains operated throughout the series of impulses. but its operation is of no utility at this time.

Off-normal contacts 900 close upon receipt of ,the nrst impulse, preparing a circuit for operate magnet 4. Thereafter, each reoperation of line relay l|0i results in the closure of the circuit for operate magnet d through contacts 900. When used in the system of Fig. 1l the magnet 4 is preferably provided with a comparatively highly inductive winding and the actuating system is preferably stiilly adjusted so as to render it slow operating, as is indicated by the parenthetical note applied to operate magnet 4 in Fig. il. This stifE" adjustment may be readily made by giving actuating spring i955 Fig. lo a relatively heavy downward tension, the thickness of the material being suitably selected ior this purpose.

As the result of the character of operate magnet l in Fig. il and the above noted adjustment, operate magnet i is unable to operate the actuating mechanism Zi during the receipt of the impulse series because of the relatively short circuit closures then occurring.

When line relay i] Gili comes to rest in an operated condition at the end o the transmitted impulse series., operate magnet i becomes lfully energized, by way of ofi-normal contacts ddii, whereupon operation occurs as pleVOilSll/ descllbd 00 actuate the Contact set.

Additionally, contacts close at this time Airrespective of which of the contact sets, Si to S i il, has been selected and actuated thereby lighting the common pilot light t it@ which may serve to attract attention to the fact that one or more oi the lamps in the single baril; shown above the counter has been lighted.

Conclusion The disclosed apparatus having been described quite completely, it may be well to point out one or two features not particularly dwelt on in the course of the description. One feature concerns yokes il to ii and their upwardly extending pole portions, through which the counting armatures ift are controlled by their depending tabs iii. The disclosed arrangement permits lateral compactness of the counting system to be achieved with a comparatively great magnetic efficiency as com. pared for example to the counting structure of generally similar characteristics disclosed in my previously noted prior application Serial No. 612,689, iiled. August l2, i945. For example, considering restraining yoke d, the upwardly extending poles thereof, together with the tabs ib-i 8 to ith-fit comprise a comparatively compact row wherein parts can be spaced as desired without respect to the pole portions carried by the remaining yokes and their associated tabs it. If all tabs and all poles of the three yokes 9 to l i were placed in the same ro'W and in regular interspersed relationship as in my prior application last referred to, the row would be considerably longer, which would require a considerably increased width for the device.

Referring now to the operate yokes i0 and Il andtheir associated depending even-numbered auaies all these parts were placed in a single row, in stead of being placed in two parallel rows, that row would have to be much longer in order to avoid crowding, or else the magnetic efliciency would be greatly reduced if such crowding were permitted. For example, the pole face through which depending tab Ia-I8 is operated is very near thereto as compared to the next succeeding pole piece, through which the next succeeding odd-numbered tab :ia-.IB is actuated in its turn. Any such tab is therefore operated in its turn with comparatively little restraint from the pole portion through which the next succeeding tab in the same row is operated, which condition would not obtain if pole portions of yokes l0 and I l and their associated tabs I8 comprised only a single row.

In addition to the foregoing, the disclosed structure of yokes 9 to I l permits each of them to be produced economically as by a milling operation of bar stock to provide the desired upwardly extending pole portions.

By the previously described arrangement for moving any select fingers 30 beyond its selecting position to a post-select position, the arrangement of each of the contact sets beyond the first is greatly simplified, in that each such set otherwise would have to include contacts opened upon operation to cancel the selection of the preceding set, or some other arrangement to the same effect would have to be provided as in each of my prior applications hereinbefore referred to.

I claim: i

1. In combination, an electromagnet having a winding for receiving series of impulses, a series vof armatures for said electromagnet corresponding respectively to the impulses of a received series, means for causing the electromagnet to operate its armatures as it receives the impulses of a series, each such armature responding to its corresponding impulse of the series, a series oi members mounted in association respectively with said armatures and corresponding respectively to the impulses of a received series, an actuating bar operatively associated with each said member subject to the corresponding associated arma ture being operated, and means initially effective following the termination of a received series of impulses for moving said bar, said movement selectively operating said members according to the number of received impulses as indicated by the armatures which have been operated.

2. In combination, means for receiving series of impulses, a series of counting members, means controlled by the receiving means for operating counting members successively to count the impulses of a series, a series of select members corresponding repectively to the impulses of a received series, each such select member having a normal position, a select position, and a postselect position, means controlled by the counting' to be counted, a series of contact sets mounted on said device in association respectively with said armatures, and means responsive tol an energization of said operate magnet, following the receipt of a series of impulses by said count magnet. for selectively operating said contact sets according to the ones of said armatures which have been operated incidental to the receipt of the impulse series.

4. In an electromagnetic counting device, a pair of electromagnets comprising a count magnet and an operate magnet, a series of armatures operable successively by said count magnet responsive to successive energizations thereof Aincidental to the receipt thereby of a series of impulses to be counted, a series of contact sets mounted on said device in association respectively with said armatures, and means responsiveA to an energization of said operate magnet, following the receipt of a series of impulses by said count magnet, for selectively operating the one of -said contact sets which corresponds to the number of impulses received as indicated by the ones of said armatures which have been operated incidental to the receipt of the impulse series.

5. In an electromagnetic counting'device, a pair of electromagnets comprising a count magnet and an operate magnet, a series of armatures operable successively by the count magnet to count the impulses of a series, a series of select fingers controlled by said armature and corresponding respectively to successive impulses of a received series, a series of contact sets associated respectively with said select fingers, and means responsive to the energization of said operate magnet after a series of impulses has been received by the device for selectively operating said contact sets under control of said select fingers. 6. In an electromagnetic counting device, a pair of electromagnets mounted on a common magnetic return plate and comprising a count magnet and an operate magnet, a series of armatures operable successively by the count magnet to count the impulses of a series, a series of select fingers controlled by said armatures and corresponding respectively to successive impulses of a received series, a series of contact sets associated respectively with said select fingers, and means responsive to the energization of said operate magnet after a series of impulses has been received by the device for selectively operating the contact set associated with the last operated select finger.

7. In an electromagnetic counting device,a pair of electromagnets mounted on a common magnetic return plate and comprising a count magnet and an operate magnet, a series of armatures operable successively by the count magnet to count the impulses of a series, a series of select fingers controlled by said armatures and corresponding respectively to successive impulses of a received series, each select ilnger having a normal position, a select position, and a post-select position, each said select linger being so conselect position incidental to receipt of its corresponding impulse of the series, and to move into post-select position incidental to receipt of the next succeeding impulse of the series, a series of contact sets associated respectively with said select fingers, and means responsive to the energization of said operate magnet after a series of impulses has been received by the device for operating any of said contact sets depending on its associated select finger being then in select position.

8. In an electromagnetic counting device, electromagnetic means for receiving series of impulses including a plurality of armature-controlling pole members disposed in a plurality of laterally displaced rows, a row of counting armatures each disposed along a line extending to one side of said pole members, each armature having an oiset portion extending in overlapping relationship to a pole member in one oi said rows, such offset portions of any pair of adjeu cent armatures extending into association with pole portions lying in different rows, coupling means between adjacent armatures, and means controlled by said electromagnetic receiving means through said pole portions and coupling means for causing said armatures to move in a counting succession responsive to the receipt ci the series or" impulses. `9. in an electromagnetic counting device, elec tromagnetic means for receiving series of im pulses including a plurality of armature-control= ling pole members disposed in three laterally dis placed rows, counting armatures each-extending in overlapping relationship to n pole member in a single one of said rows, alternate armatures extending into association with pole members in s. first row, alternate ones oi the remaining are matures extending into association with pole members in a second row, the remaining armatures extending into association with pole members in the third row, coupling means between adjacent armatures, and means controlled by said electromagnetic receiv-ing means through said pole members and coupling means for causing said armatures to move in a counting succession responsive to the receipt of a series of impulses.

10. In a system for receiving and counting impulses. a series of members and means for op# erating alternate ones thereof in succession responsive respectively to the beginning of successive impulses of a series to be counted, means for operating the other members of the series in succession responsive respectively to the termination of successive impulses of such series, a series of select members corresponding repectively to the impulses of a received series. and means for operating each said select finger under the joint control of the said member which operates responsive to the termination of its corresponding impulse and the next succeeding member, a series of contact sets, and means initially effective following the termination of the received series oi impulses for controlling said contact sets through said select lingers.

ICPE-IN I.

REFERENCES (CITED The following references are of record in the rile oi this patent:

UNITED STATES FATENTS Number Name .Date

2,o2i,329 Reynolds Nov. 19, i935 2,305,456? Stibitz Dec. 21.5, i942 2,327,465 Shepherd Aug. 24, i943 

